Construction of heed musical instruments



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F. A. GLEASON, OF ROME, NEW YORK.

CONSTRUCTION OF REED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 11,121, dated .Tune 20, 1854.

To @ZZ whom it may Vconcern Be it known that I, F. A. GLEAsoN, of Rome, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Constructing Reed Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speccation, in which- Figure 1 is a top or plan View, Fig. 2 is a vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a detached View of the series of air chambers.

The same letters refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The nature or character of my invention, and that which distinguishes it from all other improvements heretofore made or known in reed musical instruments, consists in forming vibrating air chambers or recesses under each reed for the purpose of increasing the volume of the musical notes or sounds; in arranging a small hammer within each of these recesses, operated by a spring, by which it is made to strike the reed, causing it to sound instantly; also in covering the upper side of the reeds with a series oit' air chambers of suiificient capacity for air to effect the purpose of softening or smoothing the sound, each chamber having van aperture in it for the egress of sound and wind, and made of a size corresponding with the size of the reeds, to which they respectively belong.

In t-he annexed drawing A represents the case, B the keys, O the bellows, D the legs, E the reeds, constructed in the usual manner of reed musical instruments.

The construction of my new and improved part, in reed musical instruments is as follows: I form chambers or recesses F under each reed, varying in length and depth of from one inch to five or six inches, according to the size of t-he reed to be used, and of a capacity to contain suiiicient air for the reed to vibrate in without producing that peculiar sharpness, or harshness of tone that is produced by the reed when vibrating within a confined space or in an entire open space. Within these chambers or recesses are placed or arranged the small hammers, G, which are hung in the bearing (a) by a pin passing through andl near the upper end of the handle. The upper side end of the handle terminates in an angular point or toe, as seen in Fig. 2. To the bottom of the bearing (a) is attached a bent wire spring (b), which is bent in the form as seen in the drawing, and passes over the angular or toe end of the hammer handle, thence down to and resting upon the wind valve or flap (o). This valve being opened by the connecting pin from the key, releases the spring (b) and permits it to operate on the handle of the hammer, by which it is made to strike the reed, causing it to sound instantly, the heads of hammer and angular or toe ends being covered with buckskin or any suitable material to prevent noise of the hammer when operating.

The valves (c) that admit wind to the reed are opened by touching the keys which bear on and push down the lever (d), the end of which pushes the connecting pin (e) down upon the valve causing it to open simultaneously with the downward motion of the key.

H Fig. 2 is one of the series of air chambers arranged over the reeds for the purpose of mellowing and softening the tone or sound, and are of from ,gne to five or six inches in length and depth, according to the size of reed used. Some of the series of chambers are made wide enoughi to cover two or three of the reeds when they are of the lower sounds, if desired. Each chamber is provided with apertures (f) for the egress of wind and sound. The size otthese apertures is proportioned to the size otthe reeds to which they respectively belong.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

The hammers G arranged in each vibrating air chamber, in connection with the wire spring and valve (c) also in combination with it, the vibrating air chambers F under each reed, and the modulating air chambers H with the small apertures (f) over the reeds, all arranged and operating as described and represented, and for the purpose substantially as herein before specied.

JOHN MORAN, J. J. SAVAGE, 

